The Blue Lake city was overwhelmed by hundreds of ballers striving for success in the 2021 City of Mount Gambier Junior Basketball Tournament.
With teams coming from all points of South Australia fighting across 19 competitions and two days, it is the busiest period of the Basketball Mount Gambier calendar.
To cope with the vast amount of games and players, venues from the Ice House to numerous school gyms were needed as the town’s economy enjoyed a huge boost from the influx of travelling players.
With Under 10s to adults shooting hoops there was basketball action at every turn surrounded by a vibrant family atmosphere.
The hosts managed to defend plenty of silverware with six teams being crowned as champions.
The top Under 23 grade was dominated by Mount Gambier after both Lakers sides strolled to the trophy.
The women’s team was at the peak of its powers and went through the entire tournament unchallenged by its competitors.
After three big wins at the group stage, Strathalbyn proved an easy beat in the semi-final to arrange a date with the Murray Bridge Bullets in the big dance.
OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers trio Keryl Ousey, Emily Dawe and Olivia Wormald were prolific around the key helping the hosts record a 48-36 win over the Bullets.
Mount Gambier’s Under 23 men faced a sterner test, but still managed to reach the top.
The Lakers started in a big way smashing Murray Bridge, but it was on for young and old in the second group game against regional rival Millicent.
The Magic showed they were more than up for the fight and their superior shooting from beyond the three-point line proved the difference.
Austin Fuller pushed Millicent over the line by six points which meant Mount Gambier had to win its remaining group games to reach the final.
The talented names on the Lakers’ list were given a chance to show off their dunking skills in big wins over Bordertown and Strathalbyn, but Keith proved to be a tough to tackle.
Matthew Black led the Keith charge with 21 points and gave Mount Gambier coach Steven Reid something to think about.
But his impressive individual effort was not enough as Toby de Wit got the Lakers over the line to set up a rematch with The Magic in the decider.
With the trophy on the line the likes of de Wit, Shaun Lock and Duncan Reid lifted their games to the occasion.
Despite Frazer Bradley’s best efforts, Millicent fell 16 points short and Mount Gambier completed the double.
Mount Gambier and Millicent also enjoyed a strong rivalry in the Under 18 Boys competition.
After the Magic won at home earlier in the year, the Lakers avenged their loss in thrilling circumstances.
Mount Gambier entered the final with plenty of confidence after an unbeaten run, but Millicent showed plenty of fight.
Jackson Bowden and Harry Mules scored 34 of the Magics’ 47 points, but their desperate efforts were not enough to overcome the hosts.
The Lakers were excellent from long range with Harry Wright the stand-out in the tight four-point victory.
The Under 18 women’s Division 1 finale was a show-stopper after Keith and Naracoorte fought tooth and nail until the final buzzer.
In the basket for basket battle, Sophie Makin stood out for Keith scoring more than half of her team’s points.
The Kings were less reliant on one individual and a more rounded outfit with four players scoring consistently led by Taya Brunt.
But Makin’s Keith held its nerve at the death to win in unforgettable fashion 30-29.
Millicent was the local left standing in Division 2, but was outplayed by Murray Bridge in the big one.
Another Magic v Lakers decider battle decided the Under 16 Boys Division 1 competition and the visitors crashed the home side’s party.
Millicent showed its class by blitzing the minor rounds and carried that confidence into the final.
William Wimshurst and Oliver Braun were everywhere around the basket and outshot Taj Brumby to ensure the Magic cast a spell on the home team.
The Lakers had a more pleasant experience in Division 2 overcoming Strathalbyn by six points in the final where Oliver Pohlner won a scoring shoot-out with Elliott Duffield from the Storm.
The top side in the third Under 16 boys division was Keith after it edged ahead of the Storm in a tight battle at McDonald Park.
Mount Gambier suffered heartbreak in the top Under 16 Girls grade after an almighty scrap with Murray Bridge.
Cara Nulty and Macey Griffith gave it everything for the home team but fell one point short of glory after Tyler Edwards helped the Bullets stay ahead at the final buzzer.
Despite the disappointment Mount Gambier lifted the Division 2 Under 16 Girls trophy.
At North Gambier Primary School the Lakers were too classy for the Bordertown Bandits in a tight battle. Milly Allen, Ava Collins and Ruby Mitchell were the key players.
No team could catch Mount Gambier in Under 14 Boys Division 1.
The Lakers were untroubled across the entire weekend and knocked off the Kings 54-38 in the final with the help of Sam Baron and Hudson Croser.
Bordertown and Mount Gambier were the respective Under 14 Boys Division 2 and 3 winners.
After a faultless build up, Millicent had every reason to be confident of glory in the Under 14 Girls Division 1 Grand Final.
Ashlee Dean and Emily Denton had been in great form, but a huge 21-point haul from Daisy Hocking gave the Storm the winning edge.
The Magic also suffered defeat in the Division 2 decider, this time at the hands of Keith.
The Under 12 boys battles were played at North Gambier Primary School and Mount Gambier aimed to spark an upset in the Division 1 decider.
However, Strathalbyn proved too good in the big game, while Naracoorte overcame Keith in a thrilling Division 2 fight.
Millicent showed its class in the Under 12 Girls top grade winning every game by a comfortable margin including the final against the Bandits.
Limestone Coast rival Mount Gambier tried to the same in Division 2, but fell two points short in the big one against the Storm.
There were also plenty of smiles and baskets in the Under 10’s competition at St Martins.
